2 Answers
2

I think the simplest way to do that (and that's how I usually do) is to use MechJeb with the "land at target" function from orbit. Usually, if your lander is well balanced and not too creative with staging, is quite accurate. One time I actually landed on a previous lander while AFK.

In any case, you can use MechJeb to time the deorbit burn, and then fine tune the landing manually.

If you really don't want to use autopilot, yes, maneuvers nodes don't account for atmosphere, so on Kerbin aim to overshoot your target.
Actually, you have try to overshoot your target in any case, because if you don't want to land "Jebediah Kerman style" you're going to brake hard to kill your lateral (first) and vertical velocity before landing.

MechJeb doesn't teach you how to do it on your own, though. Getting it to do everything for you sort of trivializes the skills needed to do it manually.
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FrankJun 18 '13 at 17:19

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Well, I wouldn't say that. You can actually learn how to do thing by watching how MechJeb does. And then, someone is more interested in building things than directly flying things.
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DuraluminJun 19 '13 at 7:08

I'm going to mark this as correct because MechJeb is better than me. @fbueckert makes a good point, but I don't think I could land 4-5 offworld space port parts on top of each other like MechJeb can. So I use MechJeb to expand the game rather than limit my options.
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CoomieJun 20 '13 at 2:11

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Watching where MechJeb places the aiming point for surface intersect relative to the planned landing spot, then see how it burns and when, can teach you a lot. Far more imo than looking at youtube videos where people just brag about their accomplishments.
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jwentingJul 2 '13 at 13:38

In the case of Scott Manley's Rods from the Gods videos: lots of trial and error, and a little bit of luck. He mentioned (perhaps in a different video) that he had made several attempts at getting it to hit exactly where he wanted it. Having said that, with each attempt, he refined his approach and the location where he had to perform his deorbit burn such that he could be fairly certain he would hit somewhere at the KSC.

However, calling this a landing would be a bit of a stretch. The things aren't even guided. For atmospheric landings, even having wings and no fuel means you can change course and land where you want (within reason). This was the status-quo for many years in the US manned space program with the shuttles. You still have to time your deorbit burns correctly, but that's dependant a bit on the design, and comes with experience. For landing on a body with little to no atmosphere, you're going to need a powered landing anyway, so as long as you brought enough fuel, at any point in the descent, you'll be able to change your course, and therefore your projected landing location.

As for what descent profile you use, you can go with anything from surface skim (setting your periapse to ~5km above the surface, Scott Manley's favourite) to heaven drop (killing your lateral velocity while at orbital altitudes), and anywhere in between. In all cases, you have to remember that the planet or moon will rotate beneath you. Leave margins for that, and correct your course early and often to save fuel.

Finally, don't think you have to be uber precise on your landings. If you're close, then (with a little practice) you can do a grasshopper jump over the surface and get the various ships that make up your base closer together.

I wasn't able to watch the video (at work), but I guessed right that he was referring to the Rods from Gods one. Anyway, your is a better answer by far (i blame mostly tiredness and sleep deprivation :) ). But still. MechJeb. Like Jeb, only mechanical. It wins.
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DuraluminJun 18 '13 at 13:16